GRAFE passes audit for latest norm to qualify as supplier for the automobile industry

GRAFE had already been certified for the previous norm ISO/TS 16949 establishing itself as a supplier in the automotive supply chain. This norm governs not only the industry neutral requirements for quality management systems, it also ensures the additional requirements for series and spare part production in the automotive industry.

The company’s declared goal is to fulfill all existing and published norms and requirements of the automobile industry and of quality management systems, and to document its continuous development as an international supplier of masterbatches and compounds. By improving the system and process quality, customer satisfaction will be optimized, potential risks and errors in the production and supply chain quickly identified and their causes eliminated through early corrective measures.

In order to meet these challenging demands, the company’s Quality Management Officer, Matthias Hoffmann, has been certified as 1st and 2nd party Auditor IATF 16949:2016 with the Association of the German Auto Industry (VDA). Through this training program, GRAFE has supported the competencies of its staff to conduct internal audits and supplier audits in accordance with IATF guidelines. It is also the basis for maintaining the validity of all previous certificates. Annual certification audits are conducted by authorized agents to ensure the high quality standards for products and operational processes.

„The training was important, on the one hand for my personal development within the company, but also as a means to ensure the continuous further development and renewal of the IATF Standard”, according to Hoffmann. „Not only have we begun early to create a solid basis for the reorientation to the new requirements, but at the same time we are also strengthening the trust that our customers and stakeholders have placed in us”.

The standard for quality management systems in the automobile industry is the ISO/TS 16949. It defines the industry-specific additional requirements for series and spare part production in the automotive industry. This year it will be replaced by the IATF 16949:2016. The result will be new and more challenging demands, modifications, and additional requirements for the company and its staff. One requirement concerns the competence of internal and external auditors in the company.

„We want to support our staff in both their personal and professional development. In this case, the qualification contributes to the continuous improvement of business processes and provides the basis for a successful conversion to IATF 16949:2016 “, explains Managing Director Matthias Grafe. „With the adaptation to the new certification requirements, we demonstrate to our customers our high quality standards in all business processes and document our growth strategy as a worldwide supplier of masterbatches and compounds, specifically in the automotive industry”.

Due to the strong increase in the use of plastics and their ever-growing significance in cars, GRAFE is strengthening its market position for the future as a supplier in this industry and has established itself in the sector of specific and complex interior trim properties as a partner in the automotive industry. Over the past years in cooperation with its customers in the industry, GRAFE has developed over 1,000 automotive colors in more than 40 types of thermoplastics for around 40 OEMs. Renowned German and international auto makers have as customers placed their trust in the quality and flexibility of GRAFE.

The use of masterbatches for certain applications has its limits, therefore GRAFE provides its customers with customized compounds in all interior colors for every type of thermoplast. Even for the small minimum order quantity of only 100 kilograms per color in series, the company can provide compounds in all colors and properties. GRAFE is not only manufacturer of customer and application specific masterbatches, but also developer and producer of compounds.